Improvement in operating picking-staff xn looms



MMAY

JOSEPH F. WICKS, OF MlLLVlLLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

Leners Patent No. 89,365, dated April 27, 1869-.

IMPROVEMENT IN' OPERATING- PICKING-STAFF IN LOOMS.

The Schedule ,refen'ed to in these Letters Patent and making part of thelamo.

i-Or- `To all whom 'it ma/ I/ concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. WIGKS, of Millville, in the county of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Looms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My improvement in looms relates mainly to the mode of moving the picker-staff that drives the shuttle back to its position at the extreme right or left of a loom after the blow has been given to the shuttle.

The picker-staves are moved inward or towards the web in the usual manner by means of'. cams or wipers, and throw the shuttle across the web. As soon as the blow is given, it is important that the stick should come instantly back to its place in readiness for the next stroke, and vnot'be left in such a position as to impede the motion of the shuttle as it returns from the opposite box.

The spiral springs commonly used for this purpose are applied in such a manner that the inward motion 'of the stick stretches the spring7 and the reaction or contraction of the spring carries the stick back. A spring used in this way soon loses its elasticity, while by my plan the spring is compressed by the inward motion of the stick, and carries the stick back by extension to its natural length. By the use of my apparatus the springs are also readily adjusted to any required degree of tension.

. In the perspective drawing, making a part of this specification, the part of the frame or floor that supports the apparatus v`is represented at A.

The' iron case, or support M N ,l is in a horizontal position, and may be made double to abrd support to both of the springs s and q, or the springs may be used singly and placed in a case near to the staff they are to act upon at the right and left side of the loom. The. pieker-stai` D, on the left side of the loom, is

supported by and turns upon the centre pin E that projects from the standard c, the base of the standard being secured to the part A.

At the bottom of the staff thcreis a hook G, turning outward and passing through one' end of the leather strap H, the other end of the strap being fast to the hook J, formed upon the horizontal rod I, which is supported by the upright end NN of the case M, provided with holes at either end, within which the shaft 0r rod I can play freely to the right or left.

A collar P, provided with a set-screw, is placed upon the rod, and affords a bearing point for one end of the spiral spring Q. This spring is in an open coil around the rod I, and its opposite end bears against the upright end N, of the case or holder.

It will be observed that when the picker-stati` is forced inward, the strap and rod H I, and the aiiixed collar P move to the left and compress the spring Q, which by its reaction draws the bottom of the upright staliinward, and the top of the staff outward, placing it in the proper position to give the next blow to vthe shuttle. A

The other sta" D on the opposite side of the loom is operated in the same manner by the parts G', H', L, K, O, and the spiral spring S. By moving the collar I or O to the right or left, the springs can be accurately adjusted to the required tension.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The combination of the'case M N, spiral springs Q v S, centre rods I, and hooks J and L, connected by the straps H, to the movable picker-staves D D', the whole being arranged substantially as herein described.

J. F. WICKS. [L. s.]

Witnesses:

N. P. THOMPSON, MARGIEN J ENoKns. 

